How do the articles of faith affect us as Muslims and belivers?

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

A Muslim, as Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned in his book 'Madarij al-Salikeen', can not benefit from a sermon unless the following three thing or matters take place: (1) being in genuine need of a sermon, (2) disregarding the sermonizer's foibles and mistakes, and (3) remembering the Divine warnings in the Hereafter.
So, a person whose turning to Allah in repentance is weak, needs a sermon of 'Tarheeb and Targhib' (i.e. arousal of an interest and frightening); a person whose turning to Allah in repentance is strong, needs listening to Divine Orders concerning Halal and Haram; a person who usually remembers Allah needs listening to Divine Orders and assignments, a person who is negligent needs the highest degree of Targhib and Tarheeb, and so on. Allah has ordered His Messenger (SAW) to sermonize people in a goodly manner, which suits a listener.
Then, a listener who engages himself with mistakes and foibles of the sermonizer will not benefit from the sermon, since it is natural for a human being to get not benefit from a person who does not translate his words into actions.
Thus, al-Salaf said: 'If you want to make those who listen to your sermon accept it, you have to be the first one who puts your words into action'.
After that, remembering the Divine warnings in the Hereafter means one has to listen to the sermon with present and attentive heart and heedful mind as well as glorifying His Threat of fire and showing interest of Paradise. This leads to establish fear of violating His Orders and Teachings.
Allah says: {Indeed in that (there) is a sure lesson for those who fear the torment of the Hereafter…….} [11:103]
{The reminder will be received by him who fears (Allah)} [87:10]
{……..But warn by the Qur'ân, him who fears My Threat.} [50:45]
Allah knows best.